Don’t Allow Explosive Plays
This mainly pertains to the secondary. Against Will Grier last weekend, the Vols allowed the Heisman hopeful to throw for career-highs in yards and touchdowns. Granted, there were some throws that Grier made where you just tip the cap to him. But for the most part, Tennessee’s defensive backs were either beat, or they were in position to make a play and didn’t.
A former FBS quarterback, Marchi will provide a nice challenge for a young Tennessee secondary, better than most FCS quarterbacks would. After a rough game against the Mountaineers, the Vols are going to need veterans Micah Abernathy, Baylen Buchanan, and Nigel Warrior to bounce back as they prepare for Florida. Saturday will also provide a nice opportunity for freshmen Trevon Flowers, Alontae Taylor, and Bryce Thompson to continue to get their feet under them as they adjust to college football.
Tennessee will face several top-notch receiver groups going forward, starting with the Gators. If UT’s defense doesn’t want to have a repeat of what happened against West Virginia, they’ll need to take a positive step forward on Saturday.
